Amazon UK same-day deliveries bolstered by beauty
Amazon delivered over nine billion items the same or next day around the world in 2024, driven in the UK by beauty products like mascara, hair treatments, and skincare.
The online shopping giant has said it is offering faster delivery times on a larger selection of products, whilst also improving the overall safety of its employees.
Next and same day demand in the UK was also boosted by pharmacy essentials, such as magnesium and baby wipes.
Amazon, founded by the now multibillionaire Jeff Bezos as an online bookstore in 1994, has said that the advancements in delivery time are a result of stocking products geographically closer to customers.
The business added that employees "picking, packing, and driving are doing the exact same thing for orders that arrive the same or next day as orders that used to take two or three days".
Last year, Amazon allocated over $750 million (£599 million) for technologies, resources, training and programs to further improve safety across our network.
Amazon launched its Prime service 20 years ago, shipping one million items in two days. Now, the Prime subscription offers free delivery on more than 300 million items across 35 categories, tens of millions of which can be delivered the same or next day. This is 20 times the original 2005 offering at double the pace.
Today, Prime exists as a comprehensive membership that also includes exclusive deals and discounts, an extensive entertainment collection and savings beyond the Amazon platform.
"Fast, free delivery with Prime changed customers’ expectations, and we aim to keep exceeding expectations and helping members get more of what they need and want—at record speeds," said Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores.
"Record savings during our Prime-exclusive deal events, new offers like fuel savings, and fast, convenient delivery of everyday essentials, fresh groceries, and even prescription medication are some of the perks helping make Prime a better deal than ever before."
